Consecrated and valued (1&2 Corinthians)

 

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We have come to the end of our journey to the letters to the Corinthians. A very imperfect selfish and self serving church but look at the greeting. Even though this letter was written to correct them in their ways Paul starts reaffirming who they are; consecrated and gifted in Christ for His glory and kingdom. He ends the second letter encouraging and reminding them that the Father values them and how  much they need Him to live their lives.

As follower of Jesus we will sometimes fail and make mistakes BUT we will always remember that even in our weaknesses our Father is for us and on our side. Pick yourself up and take another step and follow your Lord.